spongezilla

What if new M2 launches are basically done?  What if Gurman is right in that M3 is near ready to launch?  Maybe because of the delays via supply chain it's pushed Apple's roadmap to a weird place where M2 is launching later than Apple wanted but pushed it back into the M3 launch window?  What if they opt to hold launches untl Q3/Q4 and ship the Studio, Pro, iMac, and larger Macbooks on M3 leaving the Macbook Air, 13" MB Pro, and Mac Mini on M2 until early 2024?  Think about it like this...  the lineup is currently on 5nm, 5nm Gen 2.  If you move things to M3 it'll be on 3nm which will provide greater performance enhancements in terms of speed and energy efficiency.  All are on different lines and therefore that helps with supply chain and product volume (something that with COVID has been a challenge at times).  This can be a bet Apple hedges on until they're sure 3nm is solidified to move more of the lineup over to M3 (i.e. maybe they pay for more fab capacity in transitioning a fab, if possible, to additional 3nm parts -- or, as the Macbook Pro and MacBook Air and Mini transition to 3nm M3's...  it might shift more of the product to M4 by then on whatever node it's on), while keeping 5nm gen 2 as a possible entry-level pathway with M2's for the models leftover that are still shipping with M1 chipsin 2024.  Just something to think about since it's widespread speculation anyhow.  It makes reasonable sense if M3 is closer to ready to launch it sooner especially since it would allow the Studio to separate itself a bit more from the Mac Mini wth M2 Pro.  Right now there's questionable value for many for whether to buy a Mac mini with M2 Pro or a Studio with the M1 Max.  You can argue that you want to change that sooner than later...  but shifting directly to M3 by Q3 would create greater separation.  It might bring questions with the Mac Pro then...  but...  Mac Pro is likely an Ultra level machine that also relies on PCI expansion of some sort and possible SDK's for PCI-based expansion.